‘Racism Is as American as Baseball’ Banner Unfurled at Fenway Park

Fans displayed an anti-racism sign between the top and bottom of the fourth inning during a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park.

Winslow Townson / USA Today Sports, via Reuters

By VICTOR MATHER

September 14, 2017

Four fans were ejected from Fenway Park in Boston after they unveiled an anti-racism banner over the Green Monster on Wednesday night.

“Racism is as American as baseball,” the sign said.

The banner was unfurled in the fourth inning, just above an advertisement for Foxwoods Casino. Umpire Joe West consulted with the police and security about the sign because it was in fair territory. It was taken down and the fans were removed peacefully within minutes.

No arrests were made in the incident.

The Red Sox said in a statement: “During the fourth inning of tonight’s game, four fans unfurled a banner over the left field wall in violation of the club’s policy prohibiting signs of any kind to be hung or affixed to the ballpark. The individuals involved were escorted out of Fenway Park.”

Sam Kennedy, the team’s president, told The Boston Globe that the fans “felt connected to the Black Lives Matter movement.”

One of the protesters, maintaining anonymity, emailed a statement to several news organizations that said in part: “We are a group of white anti-racist protesters. We want to remind everyone that just as baseball is fundamental to American culture and history, so too is racism.”

The protester also said that his group had no connection to the Antifa movement of militant anti-fascists.

The Red Sox this year said that they were eager to change the name of Yawkey Way, a street by the park. It is named for Thomas Yawkey, a former owner of the team when it was the last to integrate, 12 years after Jackie Robinson.

The Red Sox lost Wednesday’s game to the A’s, 7-3. They remained three games up in the American League East.